Montana escapes with OT win over Northern Colorado

RENO, Nev. (AP) — Bobby Moorehead had a game-tying 3 near the end of the second half and hit a key free throw late in overtime to help top-seeded Montana escape No. 5 seed Northern Colorado 91-89 in the Big Sky Tournament semifinals on Friday night.

The Grizzlies (25-7) will face the winner of No. 3 seed Eastern Washington and 10th-seeded Southern Utah in the championship on Saturday.

Montana led the entire way in the extra period, taking their largest lead of the game 87-82. Moorehead was fouled on a putback and split a pair of free throws that made it a two-possession game at 90-86 with 17.3 seconds to go.

Montana trailed most of the game and needed to erase a six-point deficit with 1:06 left in the second half after Jonah Radebaugh’s free throws made it 80-74.

Jamar Akoh cut the deficit to four with a layup and Michael Oguine split a pair of free throws to make it 80-77 with 55 seconds left. Northern Colorado had a 10-second half court violation without facing any defensive pressure going the other way, setting up Moorehead’s game-tying 3. Ahmaad Rorie missed a 3-point attempt, Moorehead grabbed the rebound, dribbled out to the wing and sank the turnaround from distance, Montana’s first and only triple of the game.